WEBVTT Kind: captions; Language: en 00:00:12.001 --> 00:00:19.000 One of the first questions I asked about film production is, how much? Well, 00:00:20.001 --> 00:00:26.000 how long is a piece of string? A motion picture is not a stock or inventory item. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:30.001 It can cost surprisingly little or involve a budget that would choke an elephant. 00:00:31.001 --> 00:00:35.000 Now, the cost of camera raw stock, that's a fixed 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:38.000 item. Maybe this is the place to start. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:44.001 Now, let me see. My movie should run about 20 minutes. It'll take about seven 00:00:44.001 --> 00:00:49.001 rolls of film and about $8 a roll, that'll be $56. 00:00:50.001 --> 00:00:57.000 Then magnetic striping. Let me see, 20 minutes is 720 feet. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:03.001 At two and a half cents a foot, that'll be $18. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:10.001 $18 and $56, $74. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:17.000 So, 20 minute film will cost about $75. Boy, 00:01:18.001 --> 00:01:20.001 movies sure cost an awful lot. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:30.001 Yes, films can cost a lot, but there's more to producing a motion picture than 00:01:30.001 --> 00:01:34.000 buying raw stock. Perhaps it would be better to go to 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.000 someone with film experience. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:02:02.000 Photo department, Sawyer. Oh yes, Jim, this is Joe Madden, sales promotion. Oh 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:03.001 yes, Joe, what can I do for you? 00:02:03.001 --> 00:02:09.000 We want to make a product picture on that new tram jet. 16 millimeter, color, say 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:14.000 about 20 minutes. How much cost? Well, give me some more information, Joe. 00:02:14.001 --> 00:02:17.000 Information? What kind of information? Well, you know 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:18.001 who the audience is going to be. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:22.001 How many locations? How many actors? How much equipment? You know. 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:25.001 Look, Jim, we'll whack all that stuff out later. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:27.001 Call me back, huh, in about five minutes. 00:02:27.001 --> 00:02:32.000 We want to get going, but Joe. Joe. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:03.000 $12,000. Fine. I knew you'd come up with a figure that would be right in the 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:05.001 bullseye. Thanks, Jim. Sure. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:13.000 Okay. Sometimes the 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:18.001 bullseye is way off base. Certain basic information is required before a 00:03:18.001 --> 00:03:22.000 quotation can be made. It might be best to call 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:27.000 in an 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:03.001 hour. Right. All right. Now, we want to show the factory 00:04:03.001 --> 00:04:09.001 and any other scenes that are necessary to tell the story, right? 00:04:09.001 --> 00:04:15.000 That's right. Okay. Let me figure this now for a few minutes, and I'll have it 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:20.000 for you. Fine. That's what I've got to have, because, well, naturally, price is a 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.000 big factor. Got to fit into our budget. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:26.001 On the other hand, we don't intend to be unreasonable. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:34.001 We realize that pictures cost money, and I've discussed that angle pretty 00:04:34.001 --> 00:04:40.000 thoroughly with our board, and I think they understand it. You get about what you 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:45.001 pay for and anything you buy, so we can understand a reasonable proposition. 00:04:51.001 --> 00:04:56.000 But we don't expect to pay Hollywood prices. We wouldn't hold still for that. 00:04:56.001 --> 00:05:03.000 Indeed not. So, if you can convince me that your price is fair, 00:05:03.001 --> 00:05:06.000 and that the picture will be good, well, I'll 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:07.001 be able to get the money from my board. 00:05:09.001 --> 00:05:13.000 Fine. That's the business-like way to look at it, Mr. Johnson. 00:05:16.001 --> 00:05:21.001 Oh, yes, the business-like approach. It involves many things. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:27.000 How much you have to spend is a rather critical item, as it will determine how 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:32.001 much a producer can work into a film. When you're contemplating a show, discuss 00:05:32.001 --> 00:05:37.000 it with a producer in its earliest stages. Give him complete and detailed 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:42.000 information, and allow him to submit a proposal. This proposal will contain a 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:47.001 total budget and cost breakdown, and a suggested story treatment. This permits 00:05:47.001 --> 00:05:53.000 determination of cost in advance of expenditure, and gives a comprehensive idea 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:55.000 of the end product. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:01.001 But without sufficient information, the question, how much, can only be answered 00:06:01.001 --> 00:06:05.000 by, how long is a piece of string?